Math Problem Statement

  1. Let α be an irrational number. Prove that there exist infinitely many rational numbers p/q satisfying (2.25).

Solution

Let α\alpha be an irrational number. The task is to prove that there exist infinitely many rational numbers pq\frac{p}{q} (where pp and qq are integers) satisfying the following inequality:

αpq<1q2\left| \alpha - \frac{p}{q} \right| < \frac{1}{q^2}

This result is a famous theorem from Diophantine approximation known as Dirichlet's approximation theorem. The theorem guarantees that for any irrational number α\alpha, there are infinitely many rational numbers pq\frac{p}{q} such that:

αpq<1q2\left| \alpha - \frac{p}{q} \right| < \frac{1}{q^2}

Proof (Outline of Dirichlet's Approximation Theorem):

  1. The pigeonhole principle:
    Consider the fractional parts {nα}\{ n\alpha \} for n=1,2,,Qn = 1, 2, \dots, Q, where {x}\{ x \} denotes the fractional part of xx. These are values in the interval [0,1)[0, 1), and there are QQ such values.

  2. Partition the interval:
    Divide the interval [0,1)[0, 1) into QQ equal subintervals of length 1Q\frac{1}{Q}. By the pigeonhole principle, at least two of the fractional parts {n1α}\{ n_1 \alpha \} and ( { n_2 \alpha }

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Math Problem Analysis

Mathematical Concepts

Diophantine Approximation
Irrational Numbers
Rational Approximations
Number Theory

Formulas

|α - p/q| < 1/q²

Theorems

Dirichlet's Approximation Theorem
Pigeonhole Principle

Suitable Grade Level

University level (Advanced Mathematics, Number Theory)